Maximize the space in your small closet.
When you have a small closet, every inch of space is at a premium. But many small closets have a single hanging bar, and maybe a shelf above. That's hardly making the best use of the available space. Although you won't have room for a large closet organizer, there are some simple things you can do to increase the storage in your closet. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Clean out the clutter that's taking up that valuable closet space. Keep the clothing and accessories you actually use and get rid of those you don't. If you're on the fence about certain items, keep them for six months or a year; if you haven't worn them during that time, pass them on to someone else.
2. Assess how much hanging and shelf space you need. Hang up clothes on slim hangers and sort them by length -- for instance, long coats and dresses together and shirts and slacks together. Measure how much width each sorted section takes up. Fold the clothes you normally store folded, stack them in manageable piles and measure how much space they need. Do the same with your shoes and accessories.
3. Measure the height and width of your closet. Determine if you have enough height to mount one hanging rod up high and another down low, to increase your hanging space. For instance, measure the top of the hanging rod to the bottom of your shirts. Do the same for your slacks. Add the measurements together; if they are less than your closet height, you have enough room to hang the shirts above the slacks.
4. Make room for longer-length clothes or small shelves for folded clothes by mounting the original rod up high in the closet. Mount the second rod only partway across the closet, by mounting two wooden shelf brackets on the closet's back wall and installing closet-rod holders on the inside of the brackets. Cut a rod to length and insert it, then install a shelf on top for extra storage. Add a prefabricated shelving unit on the other side, or mount shelves in the space.
5. Separate your clothes by season. Store off-season clothes in plastic storage bins on the top shelf of your closet, or in another room if you have the space.
6. Place shoes on the closet floor, stack them on a shoe shelf on the floor, or place them in an over-the-door shoe caddy. Keep any extra shoes in boxes on the top shelf.
7. Place plastic storage bins on the floor and fill them with your accessories, like purses and belts. Or hang a belt rack on the wall to keep belts and scarves handy. A wine rack hung on the back of the closet door can hold rolled-up clothing or accessories.
Tags: your closet, clothing accessories, have enough, plastic storage, plastic storage bins, small closet